My 60p "Miyako" iwagumi

[808Hawaii]

Hey guys,

So I've decided to try a "tank journal" and in hopes to update as much as I can.

I've had my hard scaped resting until I could find a good fixture, and came across a 24" tek lights. Which costed me an arm and a leg, but I know it will be worth it in the end. It has 4 giesemann bulbs, 2x aquaflora, and 2x 6,000k

Hard scaping(1st attempt)


Second attempt(and decided to go with)


I've read about the "dry start method" for HC and decided to try it for the first time, in hopes to fulfill a nice carpet.

Day one of "dry start method" 4/22/12


As you can see I didn't have much HC towards the middle, so decided to do as much as I could.

Day two (picked up Lilaeopsis) 4/23/12

(top view)


I've been spraying once a day w/excel (less then half cap) laced in my spray bottle. I've gotten some wonderful tips by fellow TPT members whiched help me a lot.

I have my lights running 8 hrs a day on a timer.

Day four 4/26/12
Picked up a stand, it's a little longer but decided to drill holes ontop for my filter hosing to go through.



Top view of "dsm" 4/26/12



A little muddy but siphon some water out with airline holes.

Day five(today)
Just laying in bed and staring at my tank lol

I just hope it comes out a nice carpet.

I'll try and update most I can, but I'm the mean time any tips or opinion would be nice.

All the way from Hawaii
Aloha and mahalo

[808Hawaii]

Exactly a week since dry starting my HC

Top picture:
Day 1 of hc 4/22

Bottom picture:
Exactly a week after 4/29

[mahko]

What's planned for the center of the tank?

[808Hawaii]

I'm really not sure. I didn't have enough hc and bought the 2 last cups from my lfs. So as of right now. I have no clue :/

[808Hawaii]

Any suggestion?

[mcqueenesq]

That growth is about as good as I've seen from anyone dry starting HC. It looks like you've had zero loss. Great job.

[808Hawaii]

Originally Posted by mcqueenesq

That growth is about as good as I've seen from anyone dry starting HC. It looks like you've had zero loss. Great job.

Thanks. This is the first time ever trying to dry start. Thanks to TPT members for there awesome tips. It's just week 1, and hopefully continues to to have great success. 3 more weeks and will flood.

[808Hawaii]

So tomorrow will be the 2 week mark from dry starting my hc(I'll snap some tomorrow morning). I did pick up a Ada mini s setup an 13mm lily pipes, and intake for my 60p from a fellow (TPT) member and deciding on what to scape with it.

As far as the HC growth, it's conning along nicely. Some browning on some leaf which I suspect is normal. But will snap pic of the hC and do a comparison from day 1 to week 1 to week 2.

(my new Ada mini s setup)


(New lily pipe and intake)

Another angle

[CmLaracy]

Personally I'd use the empty space down the center to simulate a stream. Get some compact low growing moss and get it to attach to the soil (I explain how to do this in my fourth journal). Or if you're feeling adventuresome, get a nice ADA sand and simulate a stream going down the center with that. Just IMO of course. Nice growth on the HC, watch out for when you fill it though the transition from emmersed to submersed isn't always so smooth.

[808Hawaii]

That's what I've read. And I'm terrified of flooding it. Should I bump up the co2 when flooded?

[CmLaracy]

Originally Posted by 808Hawaii

That's what I've read. And I'm terrified of flooding it. Should I bump up the co2 when flooded?

25-35ppm. I usually get my CO2 levels high enough that the fish start to get agitated, then turn it down slowly until they're ok. Seems to me like an easy way to get maximum CO2 in the column without killing anything. But since you don't have any fish, I'd say blast away once you flood it. Plants really can't have too much CO2 unless your water is like soda lol. And with how healthy that growth looks I'm thinking it'll make the transition just fine. Godd work.

[808Hawaii]

Hey guys

So today marks the second week of dry starting hc. A once a day routine spray with laced excel mixed in spray bottle (less then half cap). I really don't see any progress. Som are browning. No mold yet(crosses fingers). 9hr of light on timer.

Thinking about another 2 weeks before flooding.

Fist pic:
Day 1 of planting

Second pic:
Week 1 of dry start

3"third pic
Week 2 of dry start


My 2 setups
Mini s and 60p

[2in10]

Look great and filling in nicely

[808Hawaii]

Originally Posted by 2in10

Look great and filling in nicely

Thanks. I'm getting impatient, and I want to flood it. But I do need to just wait it out :/

[Kai808]

Hey, Great scapes! Where did you get the stand from? I'm looking for one that's 36" for my 12 gallon.